Visitors flocked around the ancient Abu Simbel temple in southern Egypt’s Aswan to witness the sun alignment phenomenon of the famous Nubian monument on Tuesday.
The temple is in a position where the inner statues of the ancient Egyptian King Ramses II and the sun gods gleam twice each year on Feb. 22 and Oct. 22 under the direct sunlight that illuminate the sanctuary.
People gather at the temple on these days, named the Sun Festival, to witness the scene. Throughout the rest of the year, the statues remain in darkness.
Built by Ramses II, the complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, known as the “Nubian Monuments.”
Tourists visited the ancient rock-cut Abu Simbel temple in southern Egypt
Sculptures of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel are illuminated by a ray of sunlight during the Sun Festival in Aswan, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Tourists visited the ancient rock-cut Abu Simbel temple in southern Egypt
Tourists visited the ancient rock-cut Abu Simbel temple in southern Egypt
Tourists visited the ancient rock-cut Abu Simbel temple in southern Egypt
Tourists visited the ancient rock-cut Abu Simbel temple in southern Egypt
Tourists visited the ancient rock-cut Abu Simbel temple in southern Egypt
Russia has proven that it is able to minimize the damage from the Western sanctions, the ministry stressed.
Russia will give “a strong response” to new U.S. sanctions, “not necessarily symmetrical” but “sensitive” to Washington, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
Following Moscow’s recognition of the two “republics” in east Ukraine’s Donbass, the United States announced a package of restrictions targeting Russia’s financial sector.
The statement said that the sanctions are in line with Washington’s ongoing attempts to “change Russia’s course.”
Russia has proven that it is able to minimize the damage from the Western sanctions, and the pressure has failed to undermine Russia’s determination to firmly defend its interests, the ministry stressed.
“In the arsenal of American foreign policy … there are no other means left than blackmail, intimidation and threats. With regard to world powers, primarily Russia and other key international players, this does not work,” it read.
Russia remains open to diplomacy based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and consideration of each other’s interests, said the ministry.
As the U.S. recovers from the unprecedented wave of infections caused by the Omicron variant, states across the country have begun rolling out plans to deal with the coronavirus as a persistent but manageable risk in the future.
More U.S. states are moving to lift their mask and vaccine mandates as the rate of new COVID-19 infections dips to its lowest level since November.
The United States is averaging about 78,000 new cases per day now, lowest since Nov. 11, according to latest data of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The average daily increase was down substantially from a pandemic high of more than 800,000 cases on Jan. 15.
The COVID-19 deaths also showed signs of easing, with average daily death count fell below 1,600, CDC data show.
Hospitalizations have also fallen sharply. There are about 66,000 patients in U.S. hospitals with COVID-19 as of Monday, according to a seven-day average of data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, down from the Jan. 20 peak of 159,000 patients.
A person visits the LA Art Show in Los Angeles, the United States, Jan. 19, 2022. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
New Omicron infections in the country have plummeted 90 percent from a pandemic high in a little over a month, according to a report of CNBC.
As the nation recovers from the unprecedented wave of infections caused by the Omicron variant, states across the country have begun rolling out plans to deal with the coronavirus as a persistent but manageable risk in the future.
California unveiled a first-in-the-nation plan last week to move past the crisis phase of the pandemic and deal with the virus as an ongoing manageable risk. Governor Gavin Newsom said California had to learn to live with the virus, using the tools developed over the past two years to prepare as much as possible for an uncertain future.
The state allowed its universal indoor-mask mandate to expire on Feb. 15. Masks will still be required indoors for people who are not vaccinated.
Like California, some states have ended universal indoor and outdoor masking mandates, while others have lifted statewide face covering requirements for schools.
But the CDC continues to urge mask use as a means to reduce transmission of the coronavirus.
“The push to let people remove their masks highlights the patchwork nature of health protocols, which have been applied inconsistently since the pandemic began in the United States in early 2020,” said a New York Times report.
China has never thought sanctions are the best way to solve problems, its foreign ministry said on February 23, when asked if the Asian nation would join Western countries in sanctioning Russia over Ukraine.
China hopes relevant parties can try to resolve their issues through dialogue and remain calm and exercise restraint, ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing.
When questioned about whether China’s remarks and position on Ukraine contradict the principle of respecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity, Hua said China’s remarks are in line with its position that regional hotspot issues should be resolved through dialogue and consultation.
“China will continue to promote peace talks in its own way,” Hua added.
She said ” China’s remarks are in line with our position that regional hotspot issues should be resolved through dialogue and consultation. China always upholds objectivity and fairness, stands for peace and justice, and decides its position based on the merits of the matter concerned. We believe that all countries should settle international disputes in a peaceful way in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Those who accuse China of violating the principle of respecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity on the Ukraine issue either harbour ulterior motives or are misguided by misrepresentation.
Reason and causality are important when trying to understand things. There is a complex historical context on the Ukraine issue and the current situation is the result of the interplay of many complicated factors. In order to have an objective understanding of the situation and seek a reasonable and peaceful settlement, it is necessary to learn the whole story on the Ukraine issue and properly address each other’s legitimate security concerns on the basis of equality and mutual respect. Certain countries should ask themselves: When the U.S. drove five waves of NATO expansion eastward all the way to Russia’s doorstep and deployed advanced offensive strategic weapons in breach of its assurances to Russia, did it ever think about the consequences of pushing a big country to the wall?
Under the current circumstances, the door to a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine issue is not completely shut. We hope relevant parties concerned can stay cool-headed and rational, and commit themselves to a peaceful resolution through negotiation in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China will continue to promote peace talks in its own way. We welcome and encourage all efforts dedicated to advancing diplomatic settlement of the issue.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a special military operation in Ukraine’s Donbass region in the early hours of February 24 and told the Ukrainian military to lay down their weapons and go home.
In a special televised address on Russian state TV, Putin said Russia has been left with no choice but to defend itself against what he said were threats emanating from modern Ukraine.
The scope of the Russian military operation was not immediately clear. A Reuters reporter in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, heard explosions that sounded like artillery shelling in the distance.
Putin said Russia would respond instantly if any external force tried to interfere with its actions and that Moscow would try to de-militarize and ‘de-Nazify’ Ukraine.
Putin’s comments come after the United States said Russia had stationed nearly 150,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders and after Russian-backed separatists appealed to him for military help against what they said was growing Ukrainian aggression.
Reuters
Kyiv has denied any such aggression.
“All responsibility for bloodshed will be on the conscience of the ruling regime in Ukraine,” Putin told state TV.
A UN spokesman said that “despite the volatile security situation the United Nations and its humanitarian partners in eastern Ukraine are making all efforts to respond to the needs of people on both sides of that line.”
The United Nations and partners are attempting to meet the needs of people on both sides of the contact line in Ukraine despite volatile hostilities and limited funds, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.
“Our colleagues in (Ukraine) continue to receive reports of hostilities impacting civilians and their properties, as well as infrastructure on both sides of the ‘contact line,'” said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. “Once again, we call on all parties to take all measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
He told reporters in a regular briefing, “despite the volatile security situation the United Nations and its humanitarian partners in eastern Ukraine are making all efforts to respond to the needs of people on both sides of that line.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the press at the UN headquarters in New York, Feb. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie E)
Guterres earlier said in a speech at a General Assembly session on Ukraine how the global body works in the field during such hostilities. “Our humanitarian operations are independent of whoever might control the territory where people are living.”
He said that since the start of the year, the world organization and its partners delivered 140 metric tons of life-saving aid across the contact line.
“Here again, our actions are based entirely on humanitarian principles endorsed by the General Assembly,” the UN chief said. “United Nations humanitarian assistance is guided by four humanitarian principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.”
Guterres added that the principles are central to establishing and maintaining access to affected people, including those in the context of an armed conflict.
Dujarric said the existing Humanitarian Response Plan for 2022 has been funded by less than 10 percent.
“We are calling on donors to prioritize their support to this plan, which seeks 190 million U.S. dollars to address the needs of 1.8 million of the most vulnerable people on both sides of the ‘contact line,'” the spokesman said, adding that limited funding limits response efforts on both sides.
The contact line separates the breakaway states in the easternmost Donbass region from the rest of Ukraine.
The S&P 500 slid down nearly 12 percent from its record close set on Jan. 3, falling deeper into correction territory. The Nasdaq declined off more than 18 percent from its November closing record to near a bear market.
U.S. stocks had another brutal session on Wednesday, pressured by mounted tensions over Ukraine and fears of aggressive policy tightening from the Federal Reserve.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 464.85 points, or 1.38 percent, to 33,131.76. The S&P 500 slid 79.26 points, or 1.84 percent, to 4,225.50, down nearly 12 percent from its record close set on Jan. 3, falling deeper into correction territory.
The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 344.03 points, or 2.57 percent, to 13,037.49, off more than 18 percent from its November closing record to near a bear market.
A decline of 10 percent or greater from a recent peak is considered a correction for a stock index, while a fall of 20 percent or greater is commonly defined as a bear market.
Ten of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with consumer discretionary and technology down 3.42 percent and 2.56 percent, respectively, leading the laggards. Energy rose 1.01 percent, the lone gaining group.
U.S.-listed Chinese companies traded mostly lower with nine of the top 10 stocks by weight in the S&P U.S. Listed China 50 index ending the day on a downbeat note.
The above market weakness came as investors nervously eyed updates concerning the geopolitical tensions over Ukraine.
Meanwhile, concerns over inflation and a hawkish Federal Reserve also gripped Wall Street.
According to the CME Group’s Fedwatch tool, investors are betting that there’s a 100 percent chance of a rate hike at the Fed’s March meeting.
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and his cabinet will discuss four issues covering Thai-Malaysian cooperation with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob during his official visit to Thailand from February 24 to 26 following a Foreign Affairs Ministry invitation, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Wednesday.
“The aspects to be discussed are reopening the Thai-Malaysian border and resuming cross-border projects that have been suspended due to the Covid-19 crisis; reinvigorating the economy with investment promotions in innovative fields; reassuring security and stability in border areas; and revitalising bilateral mechanisms for future cooperation,” said Thanakorn. “The prime ministerial meeting is scheduled for February 25.”
Thanakorn said it is a tradition for a newly appointed leader of an Asean country to visit other member nations as a guest of the government to officially introduce themselves after taking office.
Ismail Sabri became Malaysia’s ninth prime minister in August 2021, succeeding Muhyiddin Yassin.
Before visiting Thailand, he had taken a trip to Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei.
Ismail Sabri will be the first Malaysian PM to officially visit Thailand as a government guest in four years. The last official visit was made by Mahathir Mohamad on October 24 and 25, 2018. Mahathir, however, visited Thailand again in June and November 2019 to attend the 34th and 35th Asean Summit and related meetings.
U.S. President Joe Biden announced on February 22 new sanctions in retaliation for Russia recognizing two breakaway regions of Ukraine and sending troops there, adding to Western efforts to stop what they fear is the beginning of a full-scale invasion.
The measures target Russian banks and sovereign debt, among other steps.
One of the worst security crises in Europe in decades is unfolding as Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized sending what he calls peacekeeping troops to separatist areas of Donetsk and Luhansk after recognizing them as an independent.
Weeks of intense diplomacy have so far failed as Moscow calls for security guarantees, including a promise that its neighbour Ukraine will never join NATO, while the United States and its allies offer Putin confidence-building and arms control steps.
“He’s setting up a rationale to take more territory by force,” Biden said at the White House.
Biden added that “there’s still time to avert the worst-case scenario.”
“We have no intention of fighting Russia. We want to send an unmistakable message though, that the United States, together with our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory and abide by the commitments we made to NATO. We still believe that Russia is poised to go much further in launching a massive military attack against Ukraine. I hope I am wrong about that, I hope we are wrong about that, but Russia has only escalated his threat against the rest of Ukrainian territory including major cities and the capital city of Kyiv.” Biden said.
Russia plans to continue exporting natural gas without any disruption, the country’s energy minister Nikolay Shulginov said on February 22 at a gas exporters conference in Doha.
“We are looking at natural gas as a cheap source of energy, and as the Russian Federation, we would like to assert our commitment to exporting natural gas without disruption. We are also looking towards further investments in the natural gas sector.” Shulginov said
“We support research and studies in the natural gas production arena. This includes looking at long-term gas contracts to maintain the market balance – knowing that the crisis we are facing has affected gas production. ” Shulginov added.
Earlier at the conference, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said that Qatar’s liquefied natural gas production capacity will rise to 126 million tonnes a year by 2027.
Speaking at a gas exporters summit hosted in Doha, al-Thani renewed calls for further dialogue among member countries of the gas forum, as well as gas importers and exporters to ensure the security of the global gas supply.
Sculptures of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel are illuminated by a ray of sunlight during the Sun Festival in Aswan, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
A person visits the LA Art Show in Los Angeles, the United States, Jan. 19, 2022. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the press at the UN headquarters in New York, Feb. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie E)
SootinClaimon.Com 